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Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Mel Trotter celebrates 10th anniversary of women's shelter
Grand Rapids (WZZM) - The economy is taking a toll on families around West Michigan, but there are still organizations able and willing to help.
Mel Trotter Ministries has helped the homeless and those in need for more than a hundred years. Now, it is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its women's shelter.
Mel Trotter Ministries will open its doors to the public Tuesday afternoon to take a look at its Women and Children's Shelter and Program. The shelter was founded ten years ago, to meet a need that is still growing.
Mel Trotter Ministries provides a place to stay for hundreds of people every night, including more than 90 women and children.
Carmelita Peters came to Mel Trotter almost eleven months ago. She says she sought help because of "my drug addiction; just became unmanageable. Tired of being tired. ... Nineteen years, living out of a bag. Everywhere I went, my clothes was in a bag."
She is a part of the unseen face of homelessness.
Rev. Chico Daniels, the President and CEO of Mel Trotter says, "We have seen a 19% increase this year in the number of women and children coming to Mel Trotter for help. And the numbers for the men are not as high. Unfortunately, again, the poverty, and the economy seems to be affecting the women and children the most at this time."
So, the Women and Children's Shelter and Program that Mel Trotter opened ten years ago is now in even greater demand.
Looking to the future, Rev. Daniels hopes to help more women transition into permanent housing. He also wants to continue to help families. He says, "We also want to refurbish our rooms eventually. Ten years in the making, things aren't as new as they used to be."
Peters has been in and out of the Mel Trotter women's program several times since it opened ten years ago. Before she only stayed for the first stage of substance abuse treatment. But she's now on stage three and says this time, with God's help; she's staying on the right path. Peters explains, "This is an everyday journey that you're on. And it never stops. I know that today."
The open house at the Mel Trotter Women and Children's Shelter and Program will be from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 21. It's at Mel Trotter Ministries, at 225 Commerce Avenue Southwest in Grand Rapids.
view the article on WZZM's site
view the article on WZZM's site
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